They made a nice dent on a bill of more than $30,000 at a Patriots rookie party several years ago, as some veterans ordered the cognac for the purpose of inflating the bill, not the taste of top-shelf booze. Others ordered lobsters and steaks to go, just in case they needed a midnight meal.

Not every veteran condoned the price gouging, though the annual party was a rite of passage for the rookies, who pooled together their dough to pay for the event. The Patriots have held their rookie night toward the end of the season for as long as anyone can remember, but it’s been toned down much more in recent years.

The Dolphins’ current situation has brought these things to light. There’s a difference between rookie initiations — haircuts, sing-alongs and dinners — and harassment, which is the line allegedly crossed in Miami, where offensive lineman Richie Incognito has been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, specifically bullying teammate Jonathan Martin.

Other reports have surfaced out of Miami that claim rookies have been forced to pay for numerous meals and club nights, to the point where they’re going broke, and the culture in the locker room is now the subject of an NFL investigation.

Pats captain/guard Logan Mankins could not envision a similar situation within his own locker room, and many of his teammates echoed that sentiment yesterday. One-time rookie dinners happen in most, if not all, locker rooms, but the Dolphins’ mess has received a week’s worth of attention because it’s bordered on obscene.

Not the case with the Pats.

“We’ve got a great locker room,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “We’ve got a lot of great guys. We always try to do what’s best for the team.”

To be fair, it’s unrealistic to put a team of 60 players together and expect everyone to be best friends, but there are no known incidents of hazing or harassment with the Pats in recent years. Plus, agents have discussed their level of comfort when clients join the Patriots, mainly because of the structured leadership environment and a rookie program that truly helps young players adjust to life as professional athletes, particularly from a financial perspective.